Exhibition of Vladimir G. Tretchikoff work in Edinburgh, 1973

The varied material consists of:

• 1 x letter, copy: V. Tretchikoff, to Mr. McCreery, dated 2 April 1973
• 2 x letters: J. W. Herbert, Patrick Thomson's to The Editor, 'Vogue Magazine', dated 17 April 1973; and, Beatrix Miller, Editor, Vogue Magazine, dated 18 April 1973
• 1 x letter, copy: J. W. Herbert, Patrick Thomson's, to Mrs Livingstone, 'Edinburgh Tatler', dated 25 June 1973
• 2 x copies: overview of exhibition
• 1 x letter: N. McCreery, General Manager, Patrick Thomson's, to Mr. Herbert, dated 1 August 1973
• 1 x press release: House of Fraser (Northern Management Ltd), dated 6 August 1973

and:

• 1 x letter: V. Tretchikoff, Cape Town, to J. W. Herbert, dated 11 July 1973
• 1 x letter: V. Tretchikoff, to Mr. McCreery, dated 16 October 1973
• 1 x letter, copy: J. W. Herbert, Patrick Thomson's, to V. Tretchikoff, dated 29 October 1973
• 1 x letter: V. Tretchikoff, Cape Town, to J. W. Herbert, dated 26 November 1973
• 1 x letter, copy: J. W. Herbert, Patrick Thomson's, to V. Tretchikoff, dated 7 December 1973
• 1 x letter: V. Tretchikoff, Cape Town, to J. W. Herbert, dated 23 July 1974

• 1 x composite photographs (mosaic of 10) of 'Tretchikoff Exhibition at Patrick Thomson's'
• 1 x black and white portrait photograph, head, (unmounted) of Vladimir G. Tretchikoff
• 1 x black and white photograph (unmounted) of Vladimir G. Tretchikoff and his work 'Rugby'
• 1 x black and white photograph (unmounted) of Vladimir G. Tretchikoff and Sir Hugh [Fraser] at Reception

• 1 x visitor book with letter (BBC, 26 June 1974) enclosed
• 1 x large colour print 'Chrysanthemum', Tretchikoff, signed to 'Rosamund'

Vladimir Grigoryevich Tretchikoff was born on 26 December 1913 in Petropavlovsk, Russia (now Petropavl in Kazakhstan). His painting of a Chinese Girl (known as 'The Green Lady') had become one of the best known and best selling art prints of the 20th century. He was a self-taught artist painting realistic figures, portraits, still life and animals. In 1973 Tretchikoff published his autobiography, Pigeon's Luck, with Anthony Hocking, an account of his wartime experiences.

Vladimir Grigoryevich Tretchikoff died in Capetown, South Africa, on 26 August 2006.

In 1973, the Edinburgh department store, Patrick Thomson's Ltd., held an exhibition of his work.

Patrick Thomson's - or PT's - was first established in 1889 as a small haberdashery and drapery store in Edinburgh. Located in South Bridge, the store lasted until 1906 when the company relocated to North Bridge. The extra space enabled the company to increase the variety of goods offered. Patrick Thomson Ltd was one of a number of large department stores in Edinburgh which included Maule and Son (later Binns/House of Fraser), R. W. Forsyth, both on Princes Street, J. and R. Allan and Peter Allan on South Bridge, Goldbergs at Tollcross, Parkers on Bristo Street, and Jenners. In the store's sixty departments, PT.'s sold boots and shoes, furniture, carpets, millinery and costumes, drapery and toys. There was a Palm Court restaurant, with views across Edinburgh, and an in-house orchestra. In 1952, the Scottish Drapery Corporation, the owners of the department store since 1926, were acquired by Glasgow-based House of Fraser, but in spite this, the store continued trading as Patrick Thomson Ltd. House of Fraser changed the name of the store to Arnotts in 1976, but the store continued to be referred to as P.T.'s until its closure in 1982. Since 1984 the site has become the Carlton Hotel - 200 rooms, plus conference and event space.

Open to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance of visit.

Material acquired by donation. Accession no: E2014.21.

Catalogued by Graeme D. Eddie 27 March 2014

Additional items appearing with the purchased acquisition were the titles: (1) Howard Timmins, and Tretchikoff. Folio work. London: George G. Harrap, [1969] - shelved at RB.FF.254; and (2) Vladimir Tretchikoff, and Anthony Hocking, Pigeon's Luck. Collins, 1973 - shelved at RB.S.2652.